Vancouver's own JJ Bean coffee brand has some sweet news: They've opened a standalone donut shop with its own name, donuts inspired by owner John Neate Jr's own family legacy, and (of course) JJ Bean coffee.
Neate Donuts is in soft-opening mode in its pretty-in-pink street-level café space at Oceanic Plaza (1066 W Hastings St) in Downtown Vancouver.
As the story goes, JJ Bean's roots are actually in what was known as Neates Coffee, which was founded by Neate's grandparents.
"After immigrating to Canada in the early 1900’s, F.J. Neate (Frank, "Gumpy," originally from Wales) apprenticed in the coffee roasting trade and in 1945 started Neates Coffee. His wife, Ella (Isabella, "Granny," a telephone operator from Scotland), made donuts and together they pedalled deliveries of fresh coffee and donuts around Vancouver," describes the Neate Donuts webpage on the JJ Bean website.
JJ Bean has been making donuts for their cafés since 2021, but recently Neate wanted to build on that sweet legacy.
"Our donuts are made fresh each morning and throughout the day, with real fruit and quality ingredients that Granny would recognize. We hope you enjoy all the hard work," adds Neate Donuts.
New donut shop has classics and seasonal specials
In their new downtown space, Neate Donuts has a rotating selection of staple and seasonal flavours on the menu. In addition to standard Neate Donuts like Boston Cream, Apple Fritter, Raspberry Jelly, and a good ol' classic Glazed, current seasonal options include a filled Lavender Earl Grey (which may call out to those lamenting the loss of Cartems and its Earl Grey "stuffie") and Pistachio.
In a nod to the global trend started with a chocolate bar, Neate Donuts also has a special Dubai Chocolate donut, which has a rich chocolate glaze, pistachio filling, and kataifi (shredded filo dough) on top.
Also on the menu is the Benny & The Donut, a breakfast-y concoction that's only the new Oceanic Plaza shop and available in limited quantities (they make them fresh every hour). It's a more savoury donuts, with poached egg, smoked meat, and hollandaise sauce wrapped in malasada dough (malasada is a Portuguese fried dough).
The new Neate Donuts has beverages, including bottled soft drinks, tea, and JJ Bean drip and espresso-based bevergages.
Those who are in search of Neate Donuts but aren't downtown may still find some of the fried gems at many of Metro Vancouver's JJ Bean café locations. Neate Donuts are also produced at the JJ Bean locations in Sunwood Square (Coquitlam) and on Main Street and delivered fresh daily to all JJ Bean locations except Big Bend (Burnaby), Granville Island, and the Marine Building.
The addition to the JJ Bean family reflects growth in the wake of closures for some of its locations. The JJ Bean cafe at 425 Dunsmuir St in Downtown Vancouver closed its doors permanently on Feb. 26. The chain's Gastown location closed in July 2023 after a 13-year run at the Woodward's redevelopment, and, just last November, the coffee business exited its CBC "Shack" outpost, which lasted 15 years–well beyond its initial intent as an Olympics-era pop-up.
Neate Donuts at Oceanic Plaza is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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